The Dale Ball Trails, Santa Fe, N.M.: 7 of the best running trails in America

7 of the best running trails in America

The Dale Ball Trails, Santa Fe, N.M.

The Dale Ball Trails involve more than 22 miles of looped running and mountain biking trails. Located just outside of Santa Fe, the trails offer “rolling piñon and juniper-covered foothills” which might make runners feel like they are sprinting through an iconic painting of the Southwest. Locals delight in the challenging switchbacks and at-times steep running on both hard rock and dirt surfaces. The single-track trails are divided up into the Dale Balls Trail Central, a 6.3-mile moderate trail with some short, steep climbs. Then there’s the Dale Balls Trail North, an easier, shorter jaunt just 3.7 miles long.